The Colorado Education Association (CEA) marked Hispanic Heritage Month by organizing a book bundle giveaway for educators. The initiative was led by the CEA Human & Civil Rights Department and aimed to help teachers introduce more diverse literature into their classrooms.
According to the CEA, “Every student deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrated the rich cultures, voices, and histories of Hispanic and Latino communities by giving educators the chance to bring more diverse books into their classrooms. Sponsored by the CEA Human & Civil Rights Department, the book bundle giveaway provided members the opportunity to add powerful titles to their classrooms, and inspire the next generation of readers and leaders.”
The winners of this year’s giveaway were Syntya Guzman from Aurora Education Association, Dana Kruse from Fountain-Fort Carson Education Association, Bernadette Barela from Centennial Education Association, and Lyanne Terada from District 12 Educators Association.
The CEA Human & Civil Rights Department also recommended several books for classroom use. These titles include “Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers” by Juliet Menéndez, “Merci Suárez Changes Gears” by Meg Medina, “Esperanza Rising” by Pam Muñoz Ryan, and “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” by Erika L. Sánchez. Other suggested works are “With the Fire on High” by Elizabeth Acevedo, “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros, and “100 Hispanic-Americans Who Shaped American History” by Rick Laezman. Additional recommendations are “Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation” by Duncan Tonatiuh, “El dÃa en que descubres quién eres (The Day You Begin)” by Jacqueline Woodson, and “Green Is a Chile Pepper: A Book of Colors” by Roseanne Thong and John Parra. The list also features “Spanish is My Superpower” by Jennifer Jones, “Where Are You From?” by Yamile Saied Méndez and Jaime Kim, and “Latin Americans in History: 15 Inspiring Latinas and Latinos You Should Know” by Monica Olivera.
The giveaway and recommended reading list reflect ongoing efforts within the CEA to support diversity and representation in educational materials.
